Israel Inks $3B Deal for US F-35 Fighter Jets

Facts

• Israel's Ministry of Defense said on Sunday that it has approved the purchase of 25 F-35 stealth fighter jets from the US in a deal worth $3B, raising the total number of F-35s in Israel's arsenal to 75.¹
• Israel is the only Middle Eastern country in possession of the aircraft. The deal will be financed through the military aid Israel receives from the US.²
• The ministry has also said that Lockheed Martin, makers of the plane, and engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney have agreed to involve "Israeli defense industries" in the manufacturing of the jets and their components.³
• Israel began acquiring F-35s in 2016, with all 50 of the planes from the initial deal expected to be delivered by 2024, with 36 of them being delivered by November 2022. Israel is the first country outside of the US to possess F-35s.³
• The F-35 is considered to be the most advanced fighter jet currently on the market. Israel claims to be the first country to use it in combat, as it ramps up air strikes in Syria to disrupt Iranian supply lines to its allies.⁴
• The United Arab Emirates has long desired to purchase F-35s, but its close ties with China have stymied progress toward being the second Middle Eastern state to have the jet in its arsenal.⁴

Sources: ¹Reuters, ²Associated Press, ³The Times of Israel, and ⁴Al Jazeera.

Narratives

• Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by CNBC. This expansion of the F-35 deal between the US and Israel shows that the relationship between the two nations is stronger than ever, as Israel gains more tools to protect itself and its interests in the region. Maintaining air superiority over Israel's enemies is the only way to guarantee the safety of the Israeli people.
• Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Responsible Statecraft. America is underwriting Israel's human rights violations with its lax attitude towards arms exports. The US is breaking its own laws and moral principles by continuing to expand arms shipments to a country committing severe human rights abuses. The hardline right-wing Israeli government in office is unlikely to reverse course anytime soon, making this deal even more egregious.